Project Screenshot:
Quick Facts:
- Project Type: Appliance
- Domain: Entertainment
- Timeframe: 9 months
- Technologies Used: Ubuntu Linux, MythTV, C++, Qt
- Year: 2007
Scope:
Intel Egypt issued a call for proposals to build a media center appliance that would use Intel hardware in an innovative product for the regional market. Initially, Intel intended to build a custom-made software system that would replicate the user interface of successful media center applications. Even though OpenCraft had no prior experience in building such a product, we won the bid for the project by submitting a proposal that was based on the following premises:
- Use MythTV, an established open source media center to control the cost and the technology of the appliance
- Use trusted and skilled contractors to provide the expertise needed in areas where OpenCraft was lacking
- Use an agile process to control the project risks
Execution:
To us, the success of the project depended critically on assembling a team capable of delivering a fully-functional, robust appliance. Critical skills included systems engineering, usability design, Arabic localization and testing. Using a mix of in-house and contracted resources, we were able to put together a solid team who worked hard to deliver a quality product, fixing performance issues, hardware incompatibilities, usability problems, and even kernel bugs. Using Trac, an Internet-based project information system, we were able to provide a platform for agile management, whereby members updated their tasks, issues, source code, and documentation in a distributed but secure fashion. With Intel's approval, we also contributed a number of patches and new features to the community.
Specifically, we produced deliverables in the following areas:
- Customized and trimmed-down Ubuntu Linux distribution to support the appliance
- Custom startup scripts
- Selected kernel modules to match new Intel hardware and DVB peripherals
- Kernel module fixes related to remote control handling
- New MythTV plugins
- Rewrite of audio, video and picture viewing with a unified look-and-feel
- YouTube plugin
- Arabic MythTV theme including fixing localization issues for MythTV core and plugins
- Arabic and English user's guide